[ Human Trafficking, Country-by-Country ]

ICELAND (Tier 1) – Extracted in part from the U.S. State Dept 2023 TIP Report

The Government of Iceland fully meets the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking. The government continued to demonstrate serious and sustained efforts during the reporting period, considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, if any, on its anti-trafficking capacity; therefore Iceland remained on Tier 1. These efforts included investigating more trafficking cases, identifying more victims, and preparing and distributing guidelines for identifying child trafficking victims. In addition, the government allocated significantly more funds to the NRM and for service agreements with various shelters providing victim assistance. The government also established the foundation for two working groups comprising stakeholders from across the Nordic countries to foster collaboration and engage on investigations, best practices, challenges, and trends. The government amended the law permitting compensation claims at the appeal stage of court proceedings despite acquittals of convicted criminals, including traffickers, and ensuring legal aid at every stage of court proceedings, including if a trafficking case returns to the courts as a civil case. In response to the arriving refugees fleeing Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, authorities created and distributed flyers on the dangers of trafficking, in English, Russian, and Ukrainian, to refugees from Ukraine and all applicants under international protection in Iceland. Although the government meets the minimum standards, it did not prosecute or convict any traffickers and continued to charge suspected traffickers under non-trafficking statutes, such as smuggling, that carried more lenient penalties and were easier to convict. Furthermore, the government reported incarcerating a potential trafficking victim for unlawful acts committed as a direct result of being trafficked.

Prioritized Recommendations

Vigorously increase efforts to prosecute and convict suspected traffickers and sentence them to significant prison terms.

Ensure trafficking victims are not inappropriately penalized solely for unlawful acts committed as a direct result being trafficked.

Enhance training for investigating cases, including online cases, and collecting evidence against suspected traffickers.

Proactively identify trafficking victims and refer them to care facilities for assistance.

Screen all vulnerable individuals for trafficking indicators.

Increase training for police, prosecutors, judges, and other officials on all aspects of trafficking, particularly on identification of victims among migrant workers, asylum-seekers, and children.